Hey all. For the past four weeks, I've been leading a group on Wednesday night using Rick McKinley's book, This Beautiful Mess.  Check it out here.  It is all about the Kingdom of God and how we're called to participate in what God is already doing in the world. 

It's a great, great book that I heartily recommend.

Last night, our conversation was about MONEY. 

Most people don't like to talk about money. They really don't like their preacher talking about money. And in America, it's a sore subject, because we spend like there's no tomorrow and then wonder how we'll pay for it later. That's why Americans as a whole owe about 2.5 trillion dollars.

Here's a little something to get you thinking about your money on a Thursday. It's called the Global Rich List. All you do is put your annual income in the blank and then it'll rank you against everyone else on the globe. It's pretty amazing. Check it out:

www.globalrichlist.com

Posted by Eddie Rester at 8:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Two posts ago (50 People. 1 Great Question) I raised the question about the meaning of church membership. Evidently, this has stirred a bit of conversation. Good. It's a question we need to be discussing.

I've been thinking and talking about this issue. I think I'm ready to add something new to the conversation.

Before I offer where I am with membership, let me offer a few background thoughts:

1. I am not opposed to church membership.  Or having people "join" the church.  I just want everytone to be clear about what that means. 
   
2. For too long, "membership" has been THE number pastors and churches have been judged by.  But judging a church by its membership number is like judging a football team by the shoe size of its right guard.  It's nice to know, but it means nothing.  It doesn't tell you anything about the church, it's life, or why it exists. 
   
3. Last year, Parkway Heights purged 450 people from its role.  Tomorrow afternoon, I will meet with the woman in charge of the purge list for this year.  We'll probably take off another 200 or so this year.  Which means our worship attendance will be approximately 60% of our membership.
4. Most of the growing churches and churches that are impacting their communities in amazing ways have fewer members than attendees because of their understanding of the commitment of membership.  In fact one church has only about 1/4 the number of members vs. attendees. 
   

Now that those points are out of the way.  Let me offer a lens for what it can mean to be a "member."  This comes from a conversation I had with Bryan Collier and a few other reflections during the week.

Here's the idea:

    Membership equals mutual accountability. 

To be a member of the Body of Christ means that the church gets to hold you accountable for your spiritual growth and the fruit you bear in your life.  This is very Wesleyan (as in relating to John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement).  Wesley was clear that to be a part of one of the Methodist societies meant you would be a part of a smaller group (a class or band) which would help you with your spiritual growth and hold you acccountable to the ideals of the life of a Christ-follower.

BUT, this is a two way street.  To be a member means you also have the right and privelege of holding the church accountable to its mission.  You get a say in the direction and the life of the Body of Christ.  

Maybe we've faltered with understanding membership because we lack accountability and because we've refused the mutual part--both directions of the mutual part.

So, membership wouuld mean opportunities for the church to hold you accountable and opportunities for you to hold the church accountable.

What do you think about that?  What does that mean to you?  What would that look like in reality?  Let me know.  I'm very interested.  

Posted by Eddie Rester at 8:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Should we offer this at Parkway Heights?

Posted by Eddie Rester at 10:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

The wife and I hosted a group of young adults in our home Sunday night. The group ranged from young 20's to young 30's. Some were single; some married; some had children. In all, we managed to cram 50 young adults, plus 8 helpers into our home. We had great food (Stricks) and even better desserts.

After the meal we gathered into a central area of the house so I could talk for a few minutes (what kind of gathering would it be if the preacher didn't speak??). I mentioned a few classes, offerings, and things that we have going. We talked about future possibilities. And then I opened it up for questions. And I got one that has had me thinking.

I mentioned at the end of my little talk that the most important thing in my mind is that everyone find a place in the body of Christ where they could connect and use their gifts and talents. But, if they were interested in joining--becoming a member--to just talk to me. I'd be happy to talk to them about joining.

So, one young woman raised her hand and said, "What's the difference in being a member and being an on-going visitor?" As I looked over at this woman and husband, I realized that they are more active than many of our "members." I stammered for a minute mumbling something about getting to vote on stuff and making a commitment, but my heart wasn't in it.

Because my heart isn't in membership. Last year we removed over 400 inactive members from our rolls. This year we will remove around 200 more. As I looked around the room last night with my head swirling from the question, I realized that I didn't want anyone years from now to have to remove people's names from a membership roll. Jesus didn't die so we could be members of an organization. He died so we could be active, vibrant parts of the body of Christ. So we could find out how to be more with other Christ-followers, than without them.

So, help me here. What do you think membership is all about? Why is it important? What should it look like? What should we call it? How should it happen, if at all?

This is something I've been struggling with for months, and need your help. Let me hear from you. Send this around to some friends and get them to respond, too. I want to hear what the masses say.

Posted by Eddie Rester at 10:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBacks (0)

Do you remember the old McDonald's chicken nugget commercial where the worker at some other fast food restaurant kept saying "parts is parts"? This Sunday we look to see if there's anything special about the parts we each play in the Body of Christ.

We'll also be starting a Spiritual Gifts Study. Do you know your gifts? Click here for an online assessment and explanation offered at The United Methodist Church's website.

How about this. When you get done, post what your gifts are.

Mine: Leadership & Apostle are the two top ones for me. What about you?

Posted by Eddie Rester at 2:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

I hope you're enjoying the second most important day of the week (college football day; ranks just behind the Sabbath). Here's a little something a friend sent me this week. As a father, it made me go awwww . . .

Enjoy.

Posted by Eddie Rester at 12:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)